Minnow bucket



R. CLARK MINNOW BUCKET April 24, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fild' June 16, 1947 AKQTEVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

April 24, 1951 CLARK 2,550,533

MINNOW BUCKET Filed June 16, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet '5 m m f E 3 z T a y p j W 7 y, W 1 w w w A y 0 7 MT w 2 a M N/ J I| n 4 l M w- MM H7 W April 24, I951 CLARK 2,550,533

MINNOW BUCKET '5 Sheets$heet 4 Filed June 16, 1947 INVENTOR.

' 365d ghrif BY ATTORNEYS.v

R. CLARK MINNOW BUCKET April 24, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed'June 16, 1947 INVENTOR. B666? (727%;

ATTORN EYS.

Patented Apr. 24, 1951 MINNOW BUCKET Reid Clark, Camden, Ala., assignor, by decreeof a y court, to Thelma Clark I Application Juneld, 1947, Serial No. 754,952

(c1. tie-n v a 5 Claims.

{Thepresent invention-relates to improvements in minnow buckets, and the present application is a continuation-in-part :of my similarly entitled copending application-filed August 2, 1946, Serial No. 688,085, which is now abandoned. V j

An object of the present invention is to produce an improved minnow bucketin whichprovision is made for automatically arld continuously aerating the water to preserve:the minnows in a live and proper state in whichtheyconstitute the most efiicient'bait;

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved minnow bucket in which by a hydrosiphon action the water in the water compartment of the bucketfmay be constantly recycled through an aerating'system which will have a twofold aerating action in that compressed air introduced to a column'of water isolated from the body of water in the waterta'nk or compartment tends not only by a siphoning action to cause a' circulation of water in the -water tank and through the siphoning system butit also con tributes a primary aerating action, andin the second place by this same'compressed'air siphoning action combined with'arestricted dischargenozzle the aerated column of water and air particles may be caused toacquire a certain developed back pressure which will cause'the aeratedwatermixture to be discharged in aform resembling spray or mist through a reduced dis-- charge orifice and thereby perform a secondary. aerating action.' v r v A further object of the invention is to provide an improved minnow bucketn so constructed and arranged as to receivexan installation 'of com; pressed air equipment and thenecessary valves for the control thereof whereby the bucket will be self sufficient over an extended period of time so far as its double ,aeratingifunction is involved.v

. A stillfurther object of the invention is to provide an improved minnowbucket' which inc or-- porates the above advantages in a -simple and compact construction without adding --appreci ably to the bulk of present forms of ,minnow buckets.

A still further objectof the invention is to. provide an improved construction of minnow bucket including a bottom and a partition whereby improved strength is secured to enable the bucket to survive knocks and blows and other abuse to which such buckets are normally sub: jected. a n a "A still further object of the inventi'on is to combine in a single fitting the entire airiscont'rol group with the provision'ofa gageto'show at all.

times the air pressuretobtaining in the air chamber.v 7

With the foregoing andotherr objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, in which like parts are denoted.

by the same reference characters throughout the several views, 7

' Figure l is a top plan view of an improved min now bucket constructed in accordance with the present invention with the lid closed and the: handle raised and with parts broken away and with parts shown in section; Figurez is a vertical partly sectional view taken through the improved bucket on the line 2-2 in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 of the top part of the bucket with the handle down and the lid partially raised; 1 1 Figure 4 is avertical section taken on the. line 4-4 in Figure 1; V V

Figure 5 is a horizontal partly sectional view' taken on the line 5-5 in Figure 2; Figure 6 is a vertical section taken through-one of the catches on the line 6-6 in Figure 1; Figure '7 is a horizontal section taken on the line 1-1 in Figure 4; r I Figure 8 is 'a fragmentary top plan view of the trap lid and its spring hinge connection partly broken away;

Figure 9 is avertical partly sectional view taken through the air control group on the line 9-9 in Figure 5;

taken on the line Ill-l0 in Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a vertical partly sectional view taken on the line I l-ll in Figure 9; Figure 12 is a longitudinal section taken through the inflating 'valve casing; and I Figure 13'is a similar view taken throughthe safety valve casing. e

Referring more particularly to the drawings; l5 designates the flow line or mixing chamber disposed above and incommunication with the air line 16 from the air chamber [1. This air; line it passes through a partition l8 which sep-q arates the air chamber H from the water tank, l9. 5 Where the air line I6 passes through the par; tition l8, welds 20 are made one on each side of the partition l8; and preferably the air line IQ is. offset as it goes through such partition 18. a j t The partition I8 is preferably concavo-co'nvex with its concavity disposeddownward and to'- ward the concavity'of the concavo-convex bot-J tom or base 2|. The bottom is formed with an upstanding marginal flange 22 which lies against the external wall 23 of the cylindrical or other form of bucket I00. A weld 24 is made below the bottom 2| around the outer edge of the same and below the upstanding cylindrical flange 22, such weld joining the bottom to the bucket external wall 23 in such relationship that the downwardly presented convex surface of the bottom 2| is carried upwardly of the base line of the bucket wall 23 whereby the bucket bottom 2| is protected by the lower edge of the circum= scribing lower edge portion of the bucket wall 23. h

At the lowermost portion of the bucket wall 23, the metal is rolled outward-1y and upwardly and wound around awire or rod 25. The termi= nal end of the rolled edge is jammed tightly against the external surface of the bucket wall 23 so as to have a closed or smooth surfacefinish.

T-hepartit'ion' [8 is preferably made with a downwardly extending integral flange 26 having "a lower terminal inwardlymfiset circular edge 2? for overlapping the upper edge portion of the bottom flange 22. In other words a crimp is made at 28 in the metal of the flange 25 to produce an interior space between this flange 27, the external bucket wall 23 and the upper edge of the bottom flange 22, which three parts are strongly connected by a weld 29. A weld 30 .is also preferably produced between the outer peripheral edge portion of the partition [8 and the bucket side wall 23. In this, way the partition l8 and bottom 21 mutually reinforce one another and contribute to the reinforcement of the external bucket wall 23. The parts are all finished off so as to have smooth surfaces. The welds may all be air tight flllet welds.

At the upper portion of the bucket the. external wall 23 is preferably formed with an outwardly pressed bead 3[ of relatively large radius spaced below a second externally pressed rounded bead 32 of a smaller radius. The latter bead is spaced below an internally pressed convex bead 33 constituting a reinforcement for the. mouth of the bucket and constituting a shoulder on which-the bucket lid 34 may seat. This bead 33 also constitutes a reinforcement for the upper mouth of the bucket in concert with a wire or rod 35 encased in the circularly rolled terminal edge 36 of the external bucket wall 23. The metal of these various walls and other parts may be of any desired gage.

As best seen in Figures 2 and 4, the flow line l5 has an initial vertical leg l-5a which extends upwardly alongside the interior surface of the external bucket wall 2-3 towhich it may be afiixed as by a key or metal strap 3.! (Fig. 7) welded or otherwise secured to such bucket wall 23. The flow line may be of substantially U-shaped form.

'Ihe air line I6, extends. downwardly into the air chamber I! where it connects, as by a weld 38 with an air passage 39 in an air control fitting or casing 40 shown more particularly in Figures 9 and 10. Such air control casing has an air inlet opening 4| communicating with the air outlet opening 39 and between these openings is a valve seat 42 fora needle or other valve 43.

p The air controlcas ing 40 is mounted within the air chamber I], the. same having a flange 44 adapted to lie against the partition flange 26 and receive a wrench or other implement by which the air control casing 40 may be held against movement while th'e gage casing 45 is assembled thereto, for instance as by rotating the gage casing 45 which dis osed externally or the bucket to cause its externally threaded stud 46 to move into the internally threaded socket of the inner air control casing 40.

A gasket or washer 41 is interposed between the bucket wall 23 and the adjacent end wall of the gage casing 45. A stem 48 of the needle valve 43 extends outwardly through the gage casing 45 and is externally provided with a knurled hand wheel 49 for convenience in rotating the valve on and oif its seat, the axial progression of the valve stem 48 being accomplished by a screw threaded section 50 on the valve stem receivable into a similarly threaded section in the gage casing 45.

A packing gland or stufiing box 5| on the outer-end of the gage casing 45 packs the joint about the valve stem 48 and prevents leakage of air.

A standard air gage 52 is mounted in an upright position on the gage casing 45 externally of the bucket and inposition to be conveniently read. This air case has a threaded extension 53 for uniting the same to a threaded socket upstanding vertically in the central portion of the gage casing 45;. the air gage 52 being at all times in open communication with an air chamber 54 internally of the gage casing .45 and communicating at all times with, the air inlet port 4| of the inner air control casing 40 whereby the internal pressureof the air chamber J7 may at all times be read on the dial of the air gage 52.

As shown more particularly in Figures ll, 12, and 13:, the gage casing 45 is not only provided with the upstanding threaded socket 55 for the air gage but also downwardly'divergent threaded sockets 56 and 5? for receiving respectively the threaded nipples 5 8 and 59 of a safety casing valve 60 and an intake valve casing 6!.

Referring more particularly to Figure 12, it will be seen that thecasing 6| contains a valve core 62 similar to the valve cores used in the valve stems of automobile pneumatic tires. This valve core 62 includes the valve 63 the valve stem 6'4 and the threaded bushing 65 by which the valve core .is threadedly engaged within the stem or casing 6i. Aconventional form of screw threaded valve ca 66 may be inserted over the outer open. end, of the intake valve casing 6|.

Referring more particularly to Figure 13, a re-- lief valve 61 isv urged by a coil spring 68 against a seat. 69 to maintain the pressure in the air chamber IT. This spring 68 is selected as of an appropriate load to. maintain the required pressure in the air chamber H. The load of the spring may be varied by screwing in or out a screw threaded cap 10 mounted in the outer end of the casing 60 and having a relief port H therein. 1

Refer-ring more particularly to Figures 1 to 4 inclus'ive-,- the bucket is closed at the top of the water tank [9 by the main lid 34 which is hinged, as indicatedat 12; to a bracket leaf 13 affixed by welding'or otherwise to the side wall 23. A spring catch 74 is carried by the lid 34 diametrically opposite the hinge T2 and is shapedto "snap over the upper-rim 36 as shown in Figure 2.

The main lid '34 has a depressed central portion '15 having an opening It therein and giving access to the Water tank '19 through a trap lid 'I'Thinged to the mam, lid '34 by a hinge structure 1122. A spring 18 included in said hinge structure. biases the trap lid 11 to a closed posi'-- tion, 'showni'nFigure 2.

'We'Ided or otherwise aiiix'ed' tot'he free end of the trap lid 1'! as indicated at 19 are the two enabling the trap lid Figure 4 as having inturned spring'arms 88 and BI of a catch. These spring" 34. Such keepers are spaced apart so that when the spring arms 89, 8i are squeezed together, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, the catch arms 88, 8I may be lifted through the slot between the keepers 82, 83 thus freeing the catch and TI to be lifted whilethe mainlid 34 remains closed. i

A bail 84 having a rotary trunnions 86 adapted to rotate in eyes in the upper portions of bail ears-81outstanding from the wall of the bucket at the upper end thereof and having lower offset portions BIa affixed, as by welding, to the bucket wall 23. I

An end portion 88 of the air line I6 extends up vertically for quite a distance into the lower portion of the flow line tube Ia which is open at its lower end to communicate interiorly in a free and uninterrupted manner with the body of water:

maintained in the water tank I9. It will be understood that this end portion 88 is of substantially smaller diameter than the internal diameter of the fiow line tube I5a. The tube I5 is bent in an inverted U-shape so disposed as to place its delivery nozzle 89 well below the water line substantially close to the convex surface I8 in the" bottom of the chamber "I9.

In use, the water tank I9 or upper compartment is filled with water and the minnows placed therein. The lower compartment I1 is employed as an air tank or reservoir in which air is stored under pressure. The intake valve 6| is adapted to receive any chuck on an air hose of a gasoline air service station when the cap 68 is removed whereby air under pressure may be introduced through the casing 6|, chamber 54 and port II into the air. chamber I! for the purpose of placing the same under a compression of a preselected value. Such valueis'determined by the load of the spring 88 which biases the relief valve 61 to its seat in the safety valve casing 69. By suitably rotating the screw plug 19 the load of this spring 68 may beadjusted. The relief valve 61 will open against the'pressure of this spring 68 whenever the pro-selected pressure degree in the air chamber I1 is exceeded.

Air under compression in the air chamber I! has constant access through the port M to the needle valve 43 and is controlled by this needle valve to the exit passage 39, to the air line I6 and thence to the flow line I5. The needle valve 43 may be rotated in one or the other direction to uncover or to mask variable port areas to control the volume of flow of compressed air to the lines It and I5. Compressed air flowing through the neck 88 and being liberated at the upper open end of the neck 88 into the larger diameter flow line tube I5a immediately expands and acts in the capacity of a siphon to draw up water from the body of water in the water tank I9 into the lower open extremity of the flow line tube I5a all about the narrower neck 88. This narrower neck 88 forms in concert with the larger tube I5a an annular chamber up through which the water is drawn by the lifting action of the compressed air issuing vertically upward through the open end of the neck 88. It will be underhandle 85 is shown in 1 brought from stood that water is maintained in the water tank I9 up to a level which is substantially above that of the lower end of the flow line tube I511. The combined air and water or. aerated water will be carried along by the air pressure into the horizontal nozzle 89 which extends toward the center of the bucket where the open mouth of the nozzle will discharge such aerated water back into the compartment I9.

The nozzle at its free inner end is provided with a discharge orifice 98 of smaller diameter than the diameter of the nozzle 89 and such nozzle is swedged or tapered, as indicated at 9I, from the larger diameter to the discharge orifice 99. This tapered section 9I and the reduced diameter of the discharge orifice 98 over the normal diameter. of the nozzle 89 and tube I5 combine to createa back pressure on the water column ascending through the tube leg I5a and nozzle 89, this back ressure causing the air pressure to build up and the particles of air and water to leave the orifice 99 at a high velocity.

As water in the flow pipe I5 is aerated and lightened by the introduction of air, it rises in I5a and eventually moves into the nozzle 89. At the tip of the nozzle its flow rate is slightly retarded by the coonstriction M of the nozzle and the smallness of the discharge orifice 99 thus insuring that sufficient pressure be built up within the flow line and nozzle to cause the water to be sprayed through the orifice 98. This action or cycle is repeated by the constantly supplied air re-cycling the water through the flow line I5 and nozzle 89. Water is thus continually the bottom of the water tank I9 and discharged into the top of such water tank in an aerated condition. Through this action air and water are brought together in the flow line I5 which acts as a mixing chamber and brings about the absorption of oxygen in the water. The neck 88 may extend about three inches above the partition I8 which is the bottom of the water tank I9. The nozzle 89 is disposed well below the water line substantially close to the convex bottom I8 of the chamber I9. Of course the water in the water tank I9 will naturally well up in the flow line'tube I5a, to the same level as prevails in the water tank I9. This will normally be up to alevel substantially above the upper open end of the neck 88 so that the compressed air will discharge upwardly from the neck 88 into a column of water at all times present in the flow line 7 tube I5a.

While 1 have disclosed herein the best form of the invention known to me at the present time. I desire it to be understood that I reserve the right to make changes and modifications in the herein described embodiment of the invention provided such changes fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A minnow bucket comprising a bucket body, a partition dividing same into air and water compartments, a fiow line in the water compartment, an air line to the flow line originating in the air compartment, an air control fitting having an air outlet connected to the air line and an inlet port communicating with the air compartment, a valve between the air outlet and inlet port, a gage casing on the outside of the bucket body having means extending into the body wall and coupled to the fitting, a stem for the valve threadedly engaged in the casing and projecting therebeyond, said casing having an internal chamber in continuous communication through the port with the air compartment, a gage connected to said chamber, an air intake valve unit carried by the casing and connecting withthe chamber, and a relief valve unit also carried by the casing and connecting with the chamber.

2. A minnow'bucket comprising a bucket body, aYpartition dividing same into air and water compartments, a flow line in the water compartment, an air line to the flow line originating in the air compartment, an air control fitting having an air outlet connected to the air line and an inlet port communicating with the air compartment, a valve between the air outlet and inlet port, a gagercasing on the outside of the bucketbody having means extending intothe body walland, coupled to said fitting, operating means for the valve. mounted in and projecting outwardly of said casin said casing having an internal chamber incontinuous communication through the port with the air compartment, a gage carried by said casing and communicating with said chamber, and an air intake valve unit carried by the casing and connecting with the chamber..

3. A minnow bucket comprising a bucket body, a partition dividing same into air and water compartments, a flow line in the water compartment, an air line to the flow line originating in the air compartment, an air control fitting having an air outlet connected to the air line and an inlet port communicating with the air compartment, said air outlet and said inlet port being relatively ofiset and said fitting having a valve seat between said air outlet and the inlet port, a valve movably mounted for closing and opening with respect to said seat, a casing on the outside of the bucket body having means extending into the body wall and coupled to said fitting, said casing having an internal chamber in continuous communication through the port with the air compartment, a stem connected to operate said valve movably mounted through the outer portion of said casing and an air intake valve unit carried by the casing and connecting with the chamber.

4. A minnow bucket comprising a bucket body, a partition dividing same into air and water compartments, a flow line in the water compartment, an air line to the iiow line originating in the air compartment, an air control fitting in the air compartment having an air outlet connected to the air line and an inlet port communicating with the air compartment, said fitting having a valve seat between the air outlet and the inlet port, a casing mounted on the outside of the bucket body opposite to the fitting and having an internal chamber communicating with the air inlet port of said fitting, a valve mounted in said casing to move toward and from said valve seat, and an air intake valve unit carried by said casing and. connecting with the chamber.

5. A minnow bucket comprising a bucket body, a partition dividing the same into air and water compartments, an air control fitting mounted on the body with the water compartment and an inlet port communicating with the air compartment, a valve between the air outlet and inlet port, a gage casing on the outside of the bucket body having an internal chamber in continuous communication through the port with said air compartment, operating means for the valve mounted in, and projecting outwardly of said casing, a gage carried by said casing and communicating with said. chamber, and an air intake valve unit carried by said casing and communicating with said chamber. 7 I

REID CLARK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Number Name Date 170,697 Anderson Dec. 7, 1875 245,441 Burnett Aug. 9, 1881, 817,110 Foulds May 5, 1885 366,650 Danheiser July 19, 1887 370,681 Caldwell et a1 Sept. 27, 13.87

457,741 Kimball Aug. 11, 1891 718,228 Strandberg Jan. 13, 1903 852,566 Lane May 7, 1907 1,126,640 Jones Jan. 26, 1915 1,128,327 Keith 1 Feb. 16, 1915 1,261,018 Gebhardt Apr. 2, 1918 1,485,555 Daykin Mar. 4, 1924 1,568,730 Gleason Jan. 5, 1926 1,574,783 Beth Mar. 2, 1926 1,604,971 Churchill et a1 Nov. 2, 1926 1,616,125 Holman Feb. 1, 1927 1,843,563 Koernschild Feb. 2, 1932 1,942,935 Reutter Jan. 8, 19.34

1,964,838 Weinberg July 3, 1934 2,033,011 Schilling Mar. 3, 1936 2,194,067 Campbell Mar. 19, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 142,258 Austria June '25, 1935 and having an air outlet communicating 

